Senate convenes emergency plenary on N2trn supplementary budget, REC nominees

The senate on Monday convened an emergency plenary to gazette the N2 trillion supplementary budget it passed on Thursday and confirmation of resident electoral commissioner (REC) nominees.

The upper legislative chamber concluded the screening of RECs of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) last week.

Etekamba Umoren, an ally of Senate President Godswill Akpabio, was confirmed as the REC of Akwa Ibom state. He was one of the 10 REC nominees appointed by President Bola Tinubu.

Umoren’s appointment was considered controversial because he is believed to be a card-carrying member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) — which negates the neutrality expected of a REC.

Without approving the votes and proceedings of Thursday, the passed budget and confirmed RECs are of no effect.

The usual plenary days of the upper legislative chamber are Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday — in line with its standing rules.

With the approval of the votes and proceedings of Thursday, a clean copy of the budget can be transmitted to Tinubu for assent.

The supplementary budget had controversial line items such as the purchase of vehicles worth N1.5 billion and a presidential yacht put at a staggering N5 billion.

Also, the REC nominees can now be sworn in and deployed to their respective states to commence work.